Master of Strange Dao

Inside Jinlan Mountain, Yang sat on the ground, while the village chief sat cross-legged opposite him.

The two old men hadn't sat together like this, leisurely drinking tea and eating snacks, in quite a long time.

"The number of people inside and outside this mountain seems to be increasing..."

"You don't like it?" Yang smirked.

"It's not that I don't like it. Ziqing, this child, never says anything, but always takes care of this old man.

He knows we both like children, so he's brought several here.

The Little Tree Demon is a bit silly, but as you say, he's still very young.

Qingqing follows them mining every day, so those guys have no excuse to slack off.

Sisi, that girl is so obedient and lovable, so sensible that it's almost heartbreaking.

Stone, although a bit mischievous, is just a boy. As long as he has a good heart, he's a good kid.

I know these children are here because they had no other choice, if there were a suitable place outside, Ziqing wouldn't have brought them back.

But ultimately, it's to take care of this old man, to bring some liveliness to the village."

The village chief rambled on, remembering how he once casually mentioned that the village didn't have any playful children.

People in the village never talked about children because here, over the long years, for various reasons, no one could have children.

Some were wounded, injuries that couldn't heal, some had damaged bodies, some possibly affected by Alien power, and some perhaps due to eating Jinlan Mushroom for so long. Yang couldn't say for sure what the reason was now.

No one talked about it, but everyone was actually quite happy when Yu Ziqing brought back a few pitiful children, and they all treated them well.

The most mischievous was Stone, who got beaten by Qingqing within his first three days at Jinlan Mountain.

Then, after the village chief learned why, he personally gave Stone another beating.

However, after two beatings, Stone integrated into Jinlan Mountain the fastest.

Because he saw with his own eyes how the village chief beat Er Han.

Er Han was beaten so severely he had over ten bones broken, barely in human form, breathing more out than in.

Only then did he realize that what he got wasn't really a beating, not even close, just a light lesson.

Then, the next day, he saw Er Han, who seemed on the brink of death the day before, running around full of energy.

Stone understood and started going mining with Qingqing, saying he wanted to learn no matter what, even if he had to endure beatings every day.

The slowest to integrate was the most obedient Shi Sisi, the little girl was terrifyingly sensible, careful with everything, helping in the kitchen and finding work from the first day.

The village chief rambled on, while Yang listened patiently.

When the village chief paused to take a sip of water, Yang finally spoke.

"You're not in a rush to advance now? You could have long since advanced to the Eighth Tier.

Your accumulation is strong, after starting cultivation, without much supplementation, you've been able to cultivate to the Eighth Tier in one go.

It's been quite an achievement, but from now on, you should try to supplement more."

"No rush, can't rush." The village chief was calm, lacking his usual impatience.

"You said last time that the things Ziqing is doing now are to pave the way for the Tenth Tier, and that in the future the Ninth Tier may not be strong enough.

So I can't rush either, since I have the opportunity, accumulation, and chance, I naturally aim for the Tenth Tier.

The Ninth Tier may, in some years, no longer be the backbone.

Thus, I can't rush, take it slow, there's plenty of time ahead.

According to you, I should still be able to live for a long time."

...

Ji Bochang silently disappeared from the Imperial City of Dali, pursued for a day by the Old Chief Venerate, a Ninth Tier, before he finally caught up.

However, Ji Bochang was already standing there waiting for him.

"Old Chief Venerate, you're not dead after all, I knew you wouldn't die so easily."

The Old Chief Venerate revealed himself, looking coldly at Ji Bochang.

"Who exactly are you?"

Before he could finish speaking, the Old Chief Venerate remained in place while a black shadow suddenly appeared at Ji Bochang's feet, binding him in place.

Ji Bochang closed his eyes, smiling strangely, his expression slowly freezing.

The Old Chief Venerate's face changed slightly, immediately rushing forward to inspect, controlling the shadow, he gently lifted Ji Bochang's eyelids, only to find his eyes empty beneath.

His previously full form suddenly deflated, a mere shell devoid of flesh inside.

The Old Chief Venerate's face turned ashen. No wonder he had felt something was off.

He had already conquered his Heart Demon, his strength restored to normal, yet he couldn't catch up with someone who seemed severely injured at the Eighth Tier. It turns out he hadn't been chasing the real person, just a false shell.

By the end of the day, who knows where Ji Bochang had fled to.

...

In the west of Daqian, Song Chengyue along with the Jinyi Wei experts rode a Flying Boat, hovering high above.

Across the entire western border of Daqian and the Wilderness, spanning ten thousand miles, Jinyi Wei's Flying Boats patrolled everywhere.

A tunneling light flew in from the east and was immediately intercepted by the Jinyi Wei.

Song Chengyue stood at the ship's bow, looking at the newcomer, and pulled out a Compass.

The Compass shone brilliantly, indicating that this person was related to the Langya Incarnation Technique, either an incarnation or the original essence.

Song Chengyue said expressionlessly, "If you are a Langya Incarnation, there is now a way to sever the link between the incarnation and the original essence."